250 POULTRY-CRAFT. 
377. Profit in Geese. Growers say that geese are more profitable than 
ducks, but cannot be grown in such quantities. Goslings— green geese — 
are produced at about the same cost as ducks (6 cts. to 8 cts. per pound) when 
they are fed heavily; at less cost when they have good pasture. The prices 
for good stock range from 35 cts. per pound at the beginning of the season, 
in June, down to 15 cts. later. Some growers sell the goslings at five or six 
weeks of age to fatteners. It is reported that in a series of years, one, per- 
haps the largest grower in New England, received for goslings at this age an 
average price for each year not lower than $1.09, and from that up to $1.17. 
In this case the cost of raising the goslings, aside from the labor, was not 
great; but it is to be observed that the breeding stock from which he produced 
in one season nearly eleven hundred goslings, represented an investment of 
about $500,— possibly more. In sections where there is not much demand 
for geese, the profit is never large, even when the expense of growing them is 
small, for prices are usually low. Growing mongrel geese — hybrids of the 
wild and domestic goose — is for those who have skill and facilities for it, the 
most profitable kind of goose raising. Mongrel geese of 12 to 14 lbs. weight 
sell readily at the holiday season for double the price of other geese. 
378. Shelters and Fences.— Geese need little shelter, a low shed to 
protect them-in bad weather being sufficient. A fence of almost any kind, 
wire, boards, or pickets, will do for geese. The height for the heavier breeds 
need not be greater than two or three feet. For those better able to fly, the 
fences should be higher. It is sometimes necessary to clip one wing of each 
bird. 
379. Kinds of Geese.—The kinds of geese are: — common, cross bred, 
grade, pure bred, Standard bred, and mongrel. As applied to geese, some 
of these terms are not used in the same sense as when applied to chickens 
(168). 
Common geese are — presumably — descendants of early importations 
brought from Europe by settlers. They are usually rather small, hardly 
larger than good sized ducks of the Pekin, Aylesbury, or Rouen breeds. 
Cross bred is applied by goose breeders to the offspring of cross matings of 
pure breeds, and also to the offspring of thoroughbreds mated with common 
geese. 
Pure bred; thoroughbred, and Standard bred have the same signification 
as in 7 68. 
Mongrel geese are true hybrids, and sterile. They are produced by crossing 
wild and domestic geese. 
